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The Minnesota Twins hoped Justin Lawrence could provide much-needed depth to a bullpen dealing with injuries and inconsistency.<\/p>\n
Instead, the veteran reliever’s first few appearances in a Twins uniform have already sparked frustration among fans.<\/p>\n
Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this week in exchange for cash considerations, Lawrence arrived in Minnesota as a low-risk addition with intriguing upside. However, after just two outings, concerns about the 31-year-old right-hander have quickly resurfaced.<\/p>\n
While it is far too early to judge the trade, Lawrence’s struggles that began in Pittsburgh have unfortunately followed him to Minnesota.<\/p>\n
Lawrence made his first appearance for Minnesota against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday at Target Field.<\/p>\n
Although he managed to escape without allowing a run, the outing was anything but clean. The sidearming right-hander issued one walk and hit two batters, displaying the same control problems that plagued him earlier this season.<\/p>\n
Those issues became even more apparent during Thursday night’s matchup against the Kansas City Royals.<\/p>\n
With the game tied 6-6 in the top of the ninth inning and runners already on second and third base, manager Rocco Baldelli turned to Lawrence in one of the highest-pressure situations imaginable.<\/p>\n
The results were disastrous.<\/p>\n
Lawrence walked Maikel Garcia on five pitches to load the bases before surrendering a two-run single to Josh Rojas, giving Kansas City an 8-6 lead. He then issued another five-pitch walk to Kyle Isbel before finally recording the final two outs of the inning by striking out Carter Jensen and superstar Bobby Witt Jr.<\/p>\n
Despite putting the potential tying run at the plate in the bottom half of the inning, Minnesota could not complete the comeback and ultimately fell 8-6.<\/p>\n
The loss only intensified criticism from Twins fans, many of whom questioned both Lawrence’s usage and his place on the roster.<\/p>\n
Although fans have focused on his first two appearances in Minnesota, Lawrence’s struggles are not a recent development.<\/p>\n
During his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates this season, the veteran reliever posted a disappointing 5.32 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP across 23 appearances and 22 innings.<\/p>\n
Those numbers suggest that the Twins inherited a pitcher who was already battling significant command issues.<\/p>\n
Over his last 100 innings pitched dating back to previous seasons, Lawrence has produced a 5.11 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP, numbers that have caused some fans to question why Minnesota targeted him in the first place.<\/p>\n
Still, the organization clearly sees something worth trying to fix.<\/p>\n
Despite the poor results, Lawrence possesses several traits that continue to intrigue evaluators.<\/p>\n
His unique sidearm delivery creates uncomfortable angles for hitters, and his fastball can still reach the upper 90s. More importantly, he has shown the ability to miss bats throughout his career.<\/p>\n
This season, Lawrence owns a respectable 23.9 percent strikeout rate, placing him above average among major league relievers.<\/p>\n
There is also recent evidence that he can be highly effective.<\/p>\n
Last season, Lawrence dominated opposing hitters, posting a microscopic 0.51 ERA over 17\u2154 innings. That success suggests the current version of Lawrence may simply be experiencing mechanical or command-related issues rather than a complete decline in ability.<\/p>\n
If the Twins’ pitching staff can help him regain his consistency, the payoff could be significant.<\/p>\n
The largest obstacle standing between Lawrence and a potential turnaround is his command.<\/p>\n
The veteran right-hander currently owns a troubling 12.8 percent walk rate, ranking near the bottom of Major League Baseball. Opponents are also producing a .275 expected batting average against him, another indicator that hitters have been consistently making quality contact.<\/p>\n
Simply put, Lawrence has struggled to locate his pitches.<\/p>\n
Without major improvements in that area, his power fastball and strikeout ability may not be enough to keep him in high-leverage situations.<\/p>\n
Fortunately for Lawrence, the Twins’ bullpen currently lacks healthy alternatives.<\/p>\n
Minnesota continues to deal with injuries to key relievers Cole Sands and Kendry Rojas, limiting manager Rocco Baldelli’s options late in games.<\/p>\n
Sands is currently working his way back through a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A St. Paul, while Rojas remains on the injured list.<\/p>\n
Because of those absences, the Twins are expected to remain patient with Lawrence despite his rocky start.<\/p>\n
However, that patience may not last forever.<\/p>\n
Once Sands and Rojas return, roster competition will increase dramatically. If Lawrence continues struggling with command, he could quickly become the odd man out in Minnesota’s bullpen.<\/p>\n
For now, the Twins are betting on potential rather than recent results.<\/p>\n
The organization believes Lawrence’s raw stuff, strikeout ability, and previous success make him worth developing further.<\/p>\n
But time is beginning to work against him.<\/p>\n
With every blown opportunity, the pressure will continue to mount.<\/p>\n
Minnesota still has reason to believe Justin Lawrence can rediscover the form that once made him an effective major league reliever.<\/p>\n
The question now is whether that turnaround will happen quickly enough to save his place on the roster.<\/p>\n
As the Twins continue their series against the Kansas City Royals, all eyes will remain on a bullpen searching desperately for stability\u2014and on a veteran reliever trying to prove he deserves another chance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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